Shavuot — Hashem’s Treasure

As Chag Shavuot approaches, we need to prepare for it properly. There are the flowers and cheesecake — but there is also preparing for kabalat haTorah.

The Arizal is quoted as teaching that every year on Shavuot we are given the opportunity to reaccept the Torah. The same spiritual powers, influences, and effects that existed at Matan Torah return every Shavuot — especially during kriat haTorah on the morning of the Yom Tov, though the influence extends throughout the day.

There is also a special segulah for healing on Shavuot morning, corresponding to the moment when all of klal Yisrael standing at Har Sinai were miraculously healed from their ailments and disabilities. Many had been physically damaged from the slavery in Mitzrayim, yet at Matan Torah everyone became whole.

That same spiritual power returns each year.

On Shavuot, we once again have the opportunity to declare na’aseh v’nishmah — to say to Hashem: “I want to accept the Torah.”

Not merely because I inherited it from my ancestors, but because I am consciously choosing it myself.

I once heard a story illustrating this idea.

Back when Palm Pilots existed (remember those?), two devices could be placed face-to-face to transfer programs. Reuven turned to Shimon and offered to beam him a brand-new program: the Chamishah Chumshei Torah. Shimon agreed.

As the transfer began, the screen displayed:

“Preparing to accept the Chamishah Chumshei Torah. Do you accept?”

Shimon smiled and thought: “That is exactly what every Jew should be thinking each year on Shavuot.”

Now let us turn to current events and try to draw encouragement from them — especially in preparation for Shavuot.

We are living in deeply confusing times.

With antisemitism rising across the world, Jews everywhere feel anxious and unsettled. Yet at the same time, we are witnessing unprecedented public support for Judaism from the President of the United States. There has never been anything quite like this before.

Support for shemirat Shabbat? Remarkable.

There is a famous Gemara in Shabbat (118b) in which Rabbi Yochanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai that if klal Yisrael would properly observe two Shabbatot, we would immediately be redeemed.

“Just one Shabbat and we’ll all be free…”

If only Jews everywhere would internalize this message positively. If even non-Jews can appreciate and honor Shabbat, then certainly we should strengthen our own commitment to Shabbat Kodesh.

Antisemitism has always existed, but in earlier generations it was often localized. There were places Jews could escape to.

Today, there is nowhere to run.

Media and social media have amplified hatred globally. Jews living in so-called “Western countries” are shocked to discover how widespread antisemitism truly is. And beyond that, there is the constant targeting and humiliation directed specifically at religious Jews and especially the bnei Torah in Eretz Yisrael.

When Hashem gave us the Torah, He promised:

“Vi’hayitem li segulah mikol ha’amim ki li kol ha’aretz” — “You shall be for Me a treasured nation among all peoples, for the entire world is Mine” (Shemot 19:5).

Since Olam HaBa is not explicitly discussed in the Torah, this promise refers to this world.

What is a segulah?

Rashi explains that it means a beloved treasure — the prized possession of a king.

By accepting and keeping the Torah, klal Yisrael became Hashem’s treasured nation, set apart from all others.

Sefer Bamidbar begins with Hashem commanding Moshe to count bnei Yisrael. Rashi immediately comments that Hashem counted them repeatedly because of His love for them. They were counted after leaving Mitzrayim, after the cheit ha’eigel, and again when the Shechinah rested among them.

The Medrash notes that in these parshiot alone there are multiple countings.

Parshat Bamidbar always falls near Shavuot, and that is intentional.

Hashem is reminding us: “I have kept My promise. You are My segulah, My treasured nation, and because you accepted My Torah, I continue to count you and care for you.”

Chazal even refer to Sefer Bamidbar as Chumash HaPekudim — the Book of Countings. Although it spans thirty-nine years and countless events, the central theme is that Hashem continually counts and cherishes His people.

Now let us discuss something more difficult: how the humiliation we suffer from our enemies actually creates tremendous zechuyot.

The Zohar in Medrash Rut derives this lesson from the story of Ruth and Boaz. The verse describing Boaz sleeping in the granary at midnight is interpreted as referring to the Shechinah crying over the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and the suffering of galut.

The Zohar describes how Hashem asks klal Yisrael: “How are you managing in exile?”

We answer:

“Our holy places are destroyed. The nations humiliate and curse us constantly, and we cannot answer them.”

How is it possible that our enemies are so successful at portraying Israel and the Jewish people as villains? We have endless arguments in our defense. So much effort is invested into explaining ourselves — yet much of the world still turns against us.

Why can’t we win the media war?

The Zohar explains that this inability itself is part of the galut.

So how can that possibly be positive?

The Zohar continues: Hashem tells klal Yisrael that the disgrace they endure — and their willingness to bear it without abandoning Him — is extraordinarily precious.

It compares this to David HaMelech fleeing from his son Avshalom. As David escaped Yerushalayim humiliated, Shimi ben Geira publicly cursed and disgraced him further. David’s servants wanted to kill Shimi immediately, but David refused, saying that it was all from Hashem.

Because David accepted the humiliation, he reached tremendous spiritual heights.

The Zohar says that the endurance of klal Yisrael in galut is even greater.

The fact that Jews continue remaining loyal to Hashem despite constant ridicule, hatred, and pressure is itself an immense merit.

Why must we endure this hatred?

Because of Har Sinai.

Why is it called Sinai?

Because sinah — hatred — descended into the world when klal Yisrael accepted the Torah. The nations who rejected the Torah became jealous of our closeness to Hashem. They rejected a Divinely guided moral framework and preferred to live according to their own desires.

That is why Jewish existence itself disturbs them.

This realization should serve as tremendous chizuk for us.

Everything is in Hashem’s hands.

The support we are witnessing for Judaism, the hostility we endure, the confusion in the world — all of it is unfolding according to Hashem’s plan.

Because of our ongoing willingness to accept the Torah and remain loyal to Hashem despite everything, may we merit to see the end of this galut and greet Moshiach very soon.

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R’ Dovi Chaitovsky and his family have the zechut to live in Eretz Yisrael, where he dedicates himself to Torah learning and teaching in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh. His divrei Torah often draw from the shiurim of Rav Yisrael Altusky, shlit”a, Yeshivas Torah Ore, Yerushalayim which can be heard at kolhalashon.com.